Take A Trip Around The World At This Multicultural Festival In Oregon
By Christy Articola|Published December 09, 2022
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Christy Articola
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Christy Articola has lived in Colorado since 2013 and considers herself a Centennial State enthusiast and expert through and through. She's based in Denver metro, but over the past decade, she has traveled to every corner, river, village, park, town, and city in the state and continues to explore it deeper and further whenever she can. Christy simply can't get enough of Colorado, and loves sharing all her adventures with you through Only In Your State! She graduated with a degree in journalism from Fordham University and is thrilled to be working as a full time travel writer for this and other sites - she finally found her perfect niche - and is so grateful for that.
If you’re someone who wishes to see the world but wants to do so without leaving the comfort of The Beaver State, then you’ll love the World Beat Festival in Salem. This festival has been happening for 25 years now and it gets better every year. Attendees and participants love this festival because it gives them the opportunity to celebrate the vast multiculturalism of Oregon by meeting people from around the world, trying international foods, and watching diverse performances. You’ll love this multicultural festival in Oregon. Read on to learn more about it.
World Beat Festival is incredible! People come from all over Oregon, the United States, and the world to attend it each year. Approximately 25,000 people attend this three-day festival; it happens on the last weekend of June annually.
This festival was founded by two moms with young children back in 1997. They wanted to come up with a response to growing racial tensions in the area and hoped that by introducing people to the incredible diversity of Oregon, these problems would dissolve. After much effort and planning, the first World Beat Festival opened on June 27, 1998.
Since then, this festival has grown and grown. Today, more than 400 volunteers, 70 sponsors, and 150 exhibitors and performing groups are part of the event each year.
This festival has also won over a dozen awards over the past few decades including Cultural Event of the Year from the Salem Convention and Visitors Association, a Queen of Peace Community Service Award, and a Quality of Life Award from Today's Choices, Tomorrow's Community, to name a few.
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This festival starts Friday evening and continues all day Saturday and Sunday. From beginning to end, there are dozens of performers performing on numerous stages in Salem's Riverfront Park.
It's an event that is fun for all ages. There are performances and activities designed for children, adults, and all age groups throughout the weekend.
There are several parades to watch. The Children's Parade is always a big hit. People also love the Parade of Nations, which is full of flags and colorful costumes from different countries around the world.
One of the highlights of the festival is the Dragon Boat Race. The paddlers in the World Beat Festival Dragon Boat Race practice for months for this exciting competition.
Attending this festival is an amazing experience and for many Oregon families, the World Beat Festival has become an annual tradition. If this festival sounds like fun to you, consider volunteering! World Beat wouldn't be what it is without hundreds of dedicated volunteers who donate their time each year.
Salem’s World Beat Festival is so special and every year is an unforgettable adventure thanks to the hardworking people who make it happen. It’s truly like taking a trip around the world right here in Oregon. Plan to attend the next one – once you attend one year, you’ll want to go back every year well into the future!
